Diplomacy

Two Holland America Line cruise ships departed this past Sunday on epic cruises that will spend the next several months exploring the globe.

Volendam departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a 133-day world cruise that will visit 51 ports in 23 countries on five continents. The cruise will visit South America, Antarctica, Asia, Alaska and the Panama Canal.

Zaandam departed on a 93-day cruise from San Diego, California that will visit 42 ports in the South Pacific including Bora Bora, Australia and New Zealand.

The two Grand Voyages exemplify the cruise line’s commitment to immersive, destination-rich travel.

Thoughtfully crafted to allow guests to explore the world at an unhurried pace, these extended itineraries offer meaningful time ashore and carefully curated experiences that bring each destination to life.

Michael Smith, senior vice president of guest experience and product development, said the following:

“We’ve been sailing the globe for more than 150 years, and our Grand Voyages really showcase what makes the Holland America Line experience so special.

“The length of these journeys allows our team to create experiences that unfold at a relaxing and meaningful pace, and our guests settle into a rhythm of discovery that simply isn’t possible on shorter sailings. For many, this becomes the trip of a lifetime — a chance to see the world in comfort, in community and with a sense of wonder that grows with every new port.”

Next year, Holland America will offer two Grand Voyages on the same ships, a 129-day cruise and a 70-day one.

The 2027 Grand World Voyage will sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and visit 53 ports in 28 countries, with overnight calls at seven destinations.

The 2027 Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage will visit 31 ports in 13 countries, including a four-day visit to Antarctica.

If you have trouble keeping your kids in their cabins after 1AM you might find that your cruise got a little more expensive.

A parent of a 14-year-old child is jokingly questioning taking the kids on a cruise again after receiving a warning letter from the cruise line which threatens a $500 fine.

“Might be a while til we take these kids on a cruise.. baby we almost got a $500 fine…,” Phyllis Teacher posted.

The parent posted the letter from on Facebook, and the post has already received well over 500 comments as other cruisers give their advice and witty comments.

The letter from Carnival Elation’s staff captain was straight to the point and stated that the child had “violated our curfew policy for minors.”

“We understand that our younger guests are eager to explore and enjoy the ship, however, the cufrew is a mandatory policy.  If your child violates this policy again during this cruise, a fine of up to $500 will be imposed”, the letter stated.

It’s really a courtesy of the cruise line to send this letter as a warning, but the penalty for a third violation is very severe and will result in being banned from the cruise line entirely.

“A third violated will result in disembarkation from the ship, for all in the travel group, and placement on our no-sail list.”

According to Carnival’s official policy, “Guests 17 years of age and under who are not accompanied by an adult in their traveling party, 21 years of age or older, must be clear of all public areas by 1:00 AM.”

Teacher clarified that the teen wasn’t actually alone as he was with cousins who were 19 and older. However, Carnival’s rules state that supervising adults must be at least 21.

While comments to the post were all over the map, many were glad to see Carnival enforcing this rule. The topic of unruly kids on a cruise ship is always a hot one among cruisers, but at least in this case the only issue was the child being out after curfew.

Carnival is a family cruise line and has committed to welcoming families and children on board. But as many of us know, it’s usually a parent issue when a child disrupts a cruise vacation.

Incidentally, Oceania Cruises just broke news today with the announcement that they are now an adult-only cruise line.

There’s another player in the ring of adult-only cruises after a luxury cruise line announced today that only passengers 18 and older will be allowed on their ships.

Oceania Cruises officially switched over to adult-only travel on January 7, 2026. While the cruise line has always been known for its fine dining and “sophistication at sea”, this move makes the “no kids” policy official for their entire eight-ship fleet.

Why the Change?

According to Oceania’s leadership, this wasn’t about not wanting families on their ships, but rather a result of listening to what their loyal travelers were asking for.

Passengers loyal to the cruise line keep coming back because of its “serene environment” and what they call the “finest cuisine at sea.” By removing the need to cater to all ages, Oceania can double down on the tranquility that fans of the company keep raving about.

But if you already have a trip on the books with a traveler under 18, don’t worry.  Oceania has confirmed they will fully honor all existing reservations made before today.

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, explained why the cruise line decided to make the change:

“Our guests have consistently shared that the tranquil environment aboard our ships is one of the primary reasons they return time and time again. By transitioning to an adults-only experience, we are enhancing the very essence of the Oceania Cruises journey – one defined by sophistication, serenity and discovery.”

Oceania stated that it was the passenger feedback, from both loyal and new-to-brand guests, that showed them what people really wanted: “serene atmosphere, sophisticated service and unhurried pace”.

The Fleet

Oceania’s current fleet of eight ships offer a passenger capacity ranging from around 700 to 1,200 guests.  These vessels that range from 30,000 gross tons in Regatta Class to 67,817 gross tons in Allura Class.

But the real news for the future is the Sonata Class. The first of these is set to debut in August 2027. At 86,000 gross tons, it will be the largest ship ever built for Oceania, but will still only carry around 1,390 guests, maintaining the cruise line’s great passenger to space ratio.

Oceania has three more Sonata-class ships on order through 2035.

Joining the “Adults-Only” Club

Oceania isn’t the first to realize that many cruisers are looking for a kid-free vacation.  Even parents of young children have expressed a desire to make that getaway cruise an actual getaway.

Prior to this announcement, Viking and Virgin Voyages were the two main players in this space, although Oceania wasn’t necessarily geared for families of young children to begin with.

• Viking: Often called “The Thinking Person’s Cruise,” Viking was a pioneer in this space. Every single ship in their fleet (both on the rivers and the oceans) is strictly 18+. You won’t find casinos or kids, but you will find spas, libraries, and cultural lectures.
• Virgin Voyages: If you want a “grown-up” vacation, Virgin is another great choice. Their ships are 18+ and offer inclusive Michelin-level dining.

You can read more about these two adult-only cruise lines and how they compare here.

Carnival Cruise Line has also experimented with adult-only (21+) cruising on a few select casino cruises. They proved to be wildly popular, and there are eight of these SEA (Sailings Exclusively for Adults) scheduled for 2026 you can see here.  

Oceania Cruises, one of the world’s leading destination and culinary focused cruise lines, has announced that 33% of all cabins on their next new ship, Oceania Sonata, will be suites.

The 86,000 gross ton ship will carry just 1,390 guests and have 855 crew members. It will have a total of 223 suites that range from four large Owner’s Suites to 82 new Penthouse Deluxe Suites.

All suites will feature dedicated butlers with Owner’s, Vista, Oceania and Vista suites having an illy coffee machine.

The four Owner’s Suites will each be more than 2,500 sq. ft. and will be located at on the aft corners of decks 10 and 11.

In a first for Oceania Cruises, each Owner’s Suite features two beautifully appointed bedrooms: a master haven with a king-size bed and spa-inspired, marble-clad bathroom; and a guest bedroom with a queen-size bed, private bath and floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto the expansive private veranda.

The eight Vista Suites will range from 1,500 to 1,900 sq. ft. They will offer expansive ocean views from the aft of the ship.

The master bathroom serves as a serene oasis with double vanities, a luxurious rainforest shower and porcelain soaking tub.

The 16 Oceania Suites will be finished with a king-size bed and an opulent marble-clad bathroom, bringing indulgence to life through each carefully considered detail.

Horizon Suites, a new category for Oceania Cruises, will offer 600 sq. ft. of space and have distinct living and bedroom areas.

Completing the suite collection are the 63 Penthouse Suites and 82 new Penthouse Deluxe Suites, measuring 426 and 488 square feet. Guests can unwind in the oversized living area, admiring panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling glass doors, or lounge on the private veranda to enjoy the ocean solitude.

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, gave the following statement:

“We have listened closely to the desires of our guests and are delighted to unveil Oceania Sonata’s thoughtfully reimagined suite accommodations.

“Oceania Sonata is a triumph of spacious design and meticulous craftsmanship to deliver our unwavering commitment to extraordinary experiences and our unique brand of hospitality.”

A social media post recently highlighted why Carnival has had to adjust its loyalty program as more cruisers reach status. 

The legacy loyalty program has really been a victim of its own success as more cruisers come back to Carnival, but it’s also making crystal clear that the changes Carnival is making are definitely needed for the program to offer any real benefit.

The Reddit post titled “Just too many Platinum and Diamond” got the attention of the Carnival cruise community after an email was shared that went out to Diamond and Platinum guests. 

The ‘Guest Advisory’ was sent to passengers booked on two upcoming 14-day sailings: Carnival Radiance departing for Hawaii on January 10, and Carnival Venezia embarking from Port Canaveral on January 11.

The email said that because of the high volume of Platinum and Diamond members on board, several perks would be unavailable.

The message went on to list three popular perks that were stripped, stating that following would be unavailable for the two sailings:

• Priority Embarkation
• Early Stateroom Access
• Priority Luggage Delivery

“In addition, we may not be able to offer a priority line and phone assistance by Guest Services.  Related to Diamond guests, due to capacity limitations, we cannot guarantee main dining room seating requests for dinner,” the email stated.

The Problem: “When Everyone is Special, No One Is”

This issue can be more common on Carnival Journeys (longer itineraries) and specialty cruises, which naturally attract Carnival’s most loyal fans. When 30% or more of a ship holds elite status, the “priority” lane can become too long to feel like a perk.

The reaction to the post and email was a mix of frustration and realism in the comment section. One user was blunt about it all: “when everyone is special… No one is special.”

New Carnival Rewards Program Coming in September

This status overcrowding is exactly why Carnival is officially retiring the 13-year-old VIFP Club system and replacing it with Carnival Rewards on September 1, 2026.

The cruise line is moving from a “nights sailed” model to a “spend-based” system, similar to how airlines and hotels operate.

Carnival President Christine Duffy explained that between 2021 and 2024, the number of Platinum guests more than doubled and Diamond guests tripled. In a message to guests, she stated:

“On our Excel-class ships, on average, more than 1,200 guests are Platinum or Diamond, making it nearly impossible to provide meaningful priority benefits.”

How the New System Works

Under the new 2026 program, status won’t be permanent. Here is how it will look.

Passengers will earn three Stars for every dollar spent on cruise fares and onboard purchases, requiring 50,000 Stars to reach Platinum and 100,000 for Diamond status.

These tiers have to be re-earned every two years. If a guest doesn’t meet the spending target within that window, their status will drop. Cruisers will also earn points that act as a currency, allowing them to buy their own rewards, such as specialty dining, shore excursions, or spa treatments

What Happens to Current Status Holders

After some pretty severe backlash in the initial days of the announced changes to the reward program, Carnival has made a few big concessions for those who hit status before the cutoff date on August 31, 2026.

• Lifetime Diamond: Anyone who achieves Diamond status by the cutoff date will be given Lifetime Diamond status.
• The Platinum “Boost”: Existing Platinum members will receive a 10,000-Star “head start” every two years, ensuring they stay at least at the Gold level even if they don’t cruise during that period.

The Bottom Line

Carnival doesn’t have an easy job of keeping everyone happy when so many on specific cruises have reached Diamond and Platinum status.  A change to the old program was inevitable and so was the pain that comes with it.

As one Reddit user said in the comments, “Status level entitlements are no longer guaranteed. Pay for the accommodations and service you want because it’s valuable to you.”